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HBO’s critically acclaimed post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us wrapped up its dark and emotionally charged second season on Sunday, May 25, with the finale titled Convergence. The episode left fans shaken as it brought intense moments of reckoning, especially for Ellie, whose journey for justice and vengeance collided with deep moral complexity. But just as the curtain closed on Season 2, HBO delivered a glimmer of hope: the show has been officially renewed for a third season.
Based on the 2020 video game The Last of Us Part II, Season 2 picked up five years after the events of the first season. Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, set out on a grim mission to find Abby—the woman responsible for Joel’s death, played once again by Pedro Pascal. As the emotional weight of Joel’s absence loomed large, Ellie’s transformation took center stage, and the show plunged even deeper into themes of trauma, revenge, and blurred morality.
This season was shorter, spanning only seven episodes, but the decision was intentional. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann revealed that the second half of the game’s story is so expansive that it will be split across multiple seasons. In fact, Season 3 is expected to be even more ambitious. Speaking with Deadline, Mazin said Season 3 would be “significantly larger in scope,” and that there’s a strong chance the adaptation could extend into a fourth season if the story demands it.
The world of The Last of Us also continued to evolve. The Cordyceps virus, which devastated the world in Season 1, has mutated—now spreading through airborne spores, increasing the danger and complicating survival. Meanwhile, the human threat grew with power struggles between the Washington Liberation Front and the Seraphites intensifying.
HBO first confirmed Season 3’s renewal on April 9, well before the new season premiered. Francesca Orsi, HBO’s Head of Drama, praised the creative team’s vision and teased that what comes next would be even more extraordinary.
While there’s no official release date for Season 3 yet, early production reports suggest filming could begin in 2026, pointing to a likely premiere in early 2027. Until then, fans can catch up or rewatch The Last of Us Season 2 now streaming on HBO and Max.